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Abraham Lincoln

If you go to lds.org and do a search among the general conference addresses using “Lincoln” as the term, you will come up with 64 articles. Of these articles, not a single one speaks negatively of him. The GA’s are not only fond of quoting one of his statements or making an example of his life, but also of extolling his virtues, essentially putting him on a pedestal. Here are some quotes to illustrate this point:

Richard C. Edgleysaid that Lincoln “freed the slaves.” Paul H. Dunnconsidered Lincoln one of the “great leaders.” Devere Harrisimplied that Lincoln was both “great” and had reached “the pinnacle of performance.” Royden G. Derricksaid, “We revere Abraham Lincoln because of his commitment to a principle in which he strongly believed.” He also stated that he was a “patriot.” Sterling W. Sillcalled Lincoln “our great Civil War president.” David B. Haightimplied Lincoln, known as “Honest Abe,” evidenced “public virtue.” He implied that Lincoln rose “above self-interest” and acted “in the public interest with wisdom and courage.” Joseph B. Wirthlinsaid that Lincoln was “one of the greatest and most eloquent presidents of the United States.” James E. Faustbelieved Lincoln had “special gifts” and listed him along with Moses and Leonardo da Vinci. Mark E. Petersen called Lincoln a “man of God.” He also called him “the great emancipator.” Dallin H. Oakscalled Lincoln “educated,” serviceable,” and that his “use of a limited amount of information” was “wise and inspired.” Neal A. Maxwellsaid that Lincoln provided “spiritual leadership.” Jeffrey R. Hollandcalled Lincoln “one of the most gifted leaders ever to strive to hold a nation together.” Marvin J. Ashtoncalled him “the great American leader Abraham Lincoln.” Marion G. Romneysaid that Lincoln “demonstrated his great integrity” in leaving a sentence in his ‘The House Divided Against Itself’ speech despite knowing it would probably mean losing the Senate seat. He said that Lincoln “had the integrity to act in harmony with his convictions” despite being “ambitious” and desirous of the presidency. His integrity meant “defeat in his race for the Senate,” but, Romney said, “fortunately for the country” it later made him president. He then said, “How glorious…it would be if all of us possessed the integrity of…an Abraham Lincoln.” Thomas S. Monsoncalled Lincoln “the revered Abraham Lincoln.” Spencer W. Kimballsaid that Lincoln “achieved the highest success attainable in life and undying fame to the end of time.” Gordon B. Hinckley, talking of Lincoln, said that there was “true greatness to the man” and that he laced the nation “together ‘with malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God’ gave him to see the right.” Gordon B. Hinckley, speaking of the debunking of the story of “Abraham Lincoln’s walking a great distance to return a small coin to its rightful owner,” stated that “clever debunkers in their unrighteous zeal have destroyed faith in such honesty.”

DiLorenzo is not alone in making these claims. There are other researchers who are bringing Lincoln facts to light, such as Sam Dickson, who wrote an article entitled, Shattering the Icon of Abraham Lincoln. (These two men fulfil the law of witnesses: in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.) Nevertheless, I will focus on DiLorenzo’s articles and research.

I am not convinced that DiLorenzo’s, Dickson’s and other’s zeal in debunking Lincoln myths is unrighteous. Eventually all truth is to be revealed, all hidden, secret things are to be uncovered and all lies exposed as falsehoods. We LDS should applaud all efforts that correct past errors, including any erroneous view of Lincoln’s actions.

Although Lincoln undoubtedly believed he was in the right, that alone is not enough to revere him, despite what Elder Derrick said above. There have been plenty of tyrants and dictators who also firmly believed in their own principles. What is important is that the actions of a man correspond to the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ as we know it. It is the gospel by which we measure all things.

Many of the GAs quote Lincoln, as he said many great and memorable things, but it is best to keep in mind that Lincoln was a politician. Politicians attempt to say the things that their audience want to hear. In the case of Lincoln, he did this masterfully. This is why both Christian and atheist alike claim Lincoln as their own. So, we cannot take a politician merely at his word, we must examine his actions to determine the real value of the man. And we must compare those actions with the gospel. As Jesus said, “By their fruits ye shall know them.”

In examining his actions, it is important to keep in mind the opposite principles of free agency and coercion, one being of God, the other satanic. In the pre-mortal council, some spirits of Heavenly Father did not wish to follow Christ. They didn’t want to be a part of that “union.” Our heavenly house was divided against itself. Did Heavenly Father force Lucifer and his followers to remain in heaven? Were they forced to accept Jesus? Or did he freely allow them to cut themselves off and leave, which is the right of secession? As a result of 1/3 of these spirits leaving, did the government of God dissolve? Or does it still exist? Keep this in mind when you ponder on the fact that Lincoln “saved the union” (at gunpoint) and “saved the Constitution” (by denying the right of secession and by forcing the South to submit to it, upon pain of death, imprisonment and/or loss of property.)

Now, here is a summary of DiLorenzo’s points on the unlawful and immoral acts of Lincoln:

Lincoln saved the union geographically, but destroyed it philosophically

He invaded the southern states without consulting Congress (unconstitutional)

He declared martial law (unconstitutional)

He blockaded southern ports without declaring war (unconstitutional)

He suspended the writ of habeas corpus (unconstitutional)

He imprisoned without trial some 13 northern citizens

He arrested and imprisoned newspaper publishers who were critical of him

He censored all telegraph communications

He nationalized the railroads

He created three new states (Kansas, Nevada and West Virginia) without the consent of the citizens of those states in order to rig the 1864 elections and give himself more electoral votes

He had soldiers interfere with the elections in the north (they used colored ballots, like a blue ballot was republican, a red ballot was a democrat, and if you saw someone with a wrong color the soldiers would not let them vote) using bayonets to rig the election

His amazing disregard for the Constitution was considered by nobody at the time as legal

He deported congressman Clement Vallandigham of Ohio (who eventually ended up in Canada,) breaking his door down in the middle of the night using Federal soldiers without a warrant and dragged him off to military prison (this happened to 13,000 people, too)

Vallandigham spoke of the real reason Lincoln was doing these things: “The real purpose of these acts was national banks, bankrupt laws, a vast and permanent public debt, high tariffs, heavy direct taxation, enormous expenditure, gigantic and stupendous peculation and strong government, no more state lines, no more state governments, and a consolidated monarchy or vast centralized military despotism.” Shortly after saying this, Valandegan was deported.

Some of the northern war crimes committed include:

Some 50,000 southern civilians were killed by the Federal army

1 out of 4 southern white men between 20 and 40 years of age were killed

Randolph, Jackson and Meridian, Mississippi were burned to the ground as was Atlanta

When Atlanta was burned, 90% of the structures were burned to the ground and then after they were all burned out, winter was coming on, and Sherman evicted the remaining residents from their homes, the countryside having no food in it

The idolatrous worship of Abraham Lincoln is an obstacle to the transition to anarchy. As long as LDS look upon him as a national hero, even a man of God, they will always be conditioned to look upon the State as a good thing. The purpose of this post is to cast additional light upon the Lincolnite sacred cow so that LDS can more clearly see and decide for themselves if Lincoln is worthy of their adoration and if he was the champion of liberty that we’ve all been taught he was (in our government schools.)

The South has always vilified Lincoln, while the northerners and LDS have always deified him. Maybe it is time we LDS re-examined our viewpoint, based upon this new research, to determine whether we are the ones in error.

Excellent article. I will definitley have to read more about this when I actually have more than a 30 minutes in a day. I had read an article about 3 states wanting to secede from the union and I heard all sorts of nasty things said. I couldn’t believe it. Why not secede?

I think we have become overly patriotic. I have seen first hand a different form of government, so I have a great love for the freedom I have here. However, if enough people in a state – geographically speaking – no longer wish to be a part of the majority that refuses to allow them to live how they want to, then why try to force them? Who’s really running the show?

Just like you mentioned, God allowed Lucifer and the other 1/3 of those in God’s presence to leave according to their own will. How have we come to believe that we are more wise than God to deny others that which they choose to do? We LDS should be able to recognize the exercise of agency more than any other people on the planet, but we don’t. God does not force anyone to do anything. Obeying commandments is a choice. Lucifer has his hands in more things than just leading us away from religion. He blinds us to the agency of others and we become proud and arrogant in our beliefs and feel it is our duty – speaking of humans in general not LDS – to condemn or villify others. You and I know first hand what that is like merely being LDS. “Mainstream” Christianity villifies us all the time.

Even science is totally divided, but the masses don’t know it. Why not? Does truth disrupt order? Do we exist in a state of order? No. We are living in chaos. We only perceive order because we can go and stuff our fat faces with a bacon double cheeseburger and any time of the day. We can watch the same mind numbing tv show that slowly drains our creativity and abitlity to think critically at the same time each week and on the same channel. It’s utterly disgusting. I am truly beginning to hate the world. At the same time so many of us are completely lost in it’s kaleidascopic trance of fine dining, nice clothes, expensive cars, physically flawless celebrities and useless material trappings.

Southerners dislike Lincoln, no doubt about that. I had a class in law school (in the South) on law and philosophy and I was surprised at the rancor that my Southern classmates felt for him and the his actions.

Thanks for this article – I am a huge fan of DiLorenzo, and have read some of his articles you cite. I haven’t read his books, but I refer people to them when I feel they might be interested in learning more about why I feel how I do. The more people who know the truth about his actions, the better. That he is so idolized is surely a sign of how far this society has fallen.

The funny thing is that when President Musharaff declared martial law in Pakistan recently, people derided him for using Lincoln as an example. But it’s really not too far off. Thankfully, he wouldn’t be able to even come close to Lincoln’s legacy without inciting a major world outcry.

Ezra Taft Benson once said “The sad and shocking story of what has happened in America in recent years must be told. Our people must have the facts. There is safety in an informed public. There is real danger in a complacent, uninformed citizenry. This is our real danger today. Yes, the truth must be told even at the risk of destroying, in large measure, the influence of men who are widely respected and loved by the American people. The stakes are high. Freedom and survival is the issue.”

“Yes, the truth must must be told even at the risk of destroying, in large measure, the influence of men who are widely respected and loved by the American people” Abraham Lincoln happens to be one of those men Ezra Taft Benson is talking about here. We are all about the truth. There are some valuable lessons to be learned from Lincoln days. Lincoln is no hero of mine. One of our biggest challenges we face today, if not the greatest, is that of inherited lies and false traditions which are handed down from parents to children. We each enter mortality as helpless infants totally dependent on our parents, which makes us easily persuaded to their teachings. This can be a blessing or a curse depending upon the nature of that influence and those teaching. (also education ) But with the frequency with which wrong and mistaken beliefs are perpetuated from generation to generation is indicated in the following revelation which speaks of …..“the influence of that spirit which hath so strongly riveted the creeds of the fathers, who have inherited lies, upon the hearts of the children, and filled the world with confusion, and has been growing stronger and stronger, and is now the very mainspring of all corruption, and the whole earth groans under the weight of its iniquity.” (D&C123:7)

Anyway, if you do a search of Abraham Lincoln you will see that he has been mentioned in over 230 talks since 1880. If you just put in Lincoln, you will get a result of 512 references since 1860. Not only that, it breaks down how many times in each decade his name was used with each talk listed below. Out of all those talks I can’t find one that speaks negative about him. Anyway, I thought some might find this interesting. Also, it can be a fun tool to mess around with. Just enter any word and see the results.